HOUSTON, Feb. 1 (Xinhua) -- U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson has begun a week-long trip that will take him to five nations in Latin America and the Caribbean, trying to reassert U.S. influence in a region that has suffered a miserable history of colonization and is often considered Washington's backyard.

Prior to his departure from Austin, Texas, on Thursday, Tillerson said in a speech at the University of Texas at Austin that the Western Hemisphere is a "priority" for the United States "for reasons other than simply our geographic proximity."

During his trip, which will cover Mexico, Argentina, Peru, Colombia and Jamaica, Tillerson is expected to advance U.S. interests in the region by urging each of the countries to promote trade with Washington, while lecturing them on good governance and the fight against corruption.

In his speech, the secretary laid out "three pillars of engagement" on which his country's policy toward the region is focused, namely economic growth, security and democratic governance.

While aiming to enhance energy cooperation with Latin American nations, Tillerson lashed out at Venezuela, a country with vast oil reserves whose people have been impoverished by a crippling economic crisis.

U.S. officials have said Tillerson won't be meeting with any representative from Venezuela during the trip.

Noting the United States will continue adding pressure to Venezuelan government, Tillerson insisted, however, that his country would neither maneuver a regime change in the country, nor involve ordinary Venezuelans in the sanctions.

Tillerson, in Thursday's speech, also called on nations in the region to address issues like illegal immigration, drug and human trafficking, corruption, as well as cross-border crimes.

When in Colombia, the secretary will voice his concerns about a surge in coca cultivation and cocaine production in the country, while discussing the growing refugee population with his counterparts.